Coring-machine



C. F. COLBERT.

CORING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2.1919.

1 ,327,083 Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l- C. F. COLBERT.

CORING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1919..

m w n E m MM 9 6 W I 1 M y C. F. COLBERT.

CURING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2. 1919. I

Patented J an. 6, 1920.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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$2 afi C. F. COLBE'RT.

CURING MACHINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAY 2,1919.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4-.

v lia /371%?" 4ZMLQ- ZMM W f C. F. COLBERT.

CURING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2.1919.

1,327,083. Patented Jan. 6,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- 1 L. m ij I t IHHIHIIIIII IIHMIIHH l/Z oli it J/6 A 190 #7 5; l 9/ i II W89 88 UNITE STARS PATEN 1 OFFICE.

CLARENCE F. GOLBERT, F MILXVA JKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO DIXIE FRUIT PRODUCTS CORPORATION, OF NEW "PORK, N. Y., A COBPQRA'I'ION OF DELAWARE.

CGRING-MACHINE.

Application filed May 2, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAnnn on F. Connnn'r, a citizen of the United Fit-ates, and a resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State oi Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coring-lllachines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to machines for re moving the cores from water-melons.

It has become desirable to remove the cores from water-melons for use in making vinegar or other products, and the object of the invention is to provide a machine for automatically removing the core from the rind.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the description of the machine embodying the invention.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Figure l is a plan of a machine embodying the invention. Fig. 1" is a detail section on line 1 l of Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, parts being shown in section. Fig. 8 is a detail plan of one of the melon-gripping units and the cam for operating it into and out of gripping pos1- tion. Fi l is a vertical section of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical section, showing one of the core-cutters in conneclion with its operating mechanism. Fig. 6 is a perspective of one or the core-cut-ters. (3 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 5. 6 is a section of the cutter taken on line (S"6" of Fig. Fig. 7 is a detail plan of the annular pulp-collecting receptacle. Fig. is a side elevation showing more particularly the driving mechanism for the several parts of the machine, parts being omitted. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on line 99 of Fig. 2.

The several mechanisms of the machine are supported in or by a frame comprising upright inverted lJ-shaped members 12, the lower ends of which are cross-connected by base-bars 13, parallel top bars ll and channel shaped side bars 15, 16, all oi which are suitably secured together to form a rigid SUpPOTtlng frame.

The machine comprises aseries of coring unit which are rotatably mounted, and wator--11 elons are successively delivered into the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

Serial No. 294,145.

units which are equipped with core-cutters for removing the cores from the rinds during the rotation of the units, mechanism for feeding melon-sections to the units, a tank to receive the material removed by the cutters, and mechanism for removing the rind from the units after the cores have been removed. All of said mechanisms are cooperatively organized to perform their functions automatically and successively upon melonsections held in the rotating coring units.

A stationary cutting table 35, upon which the operator can conveniently cut the melons into half-sections, is provided adjacent a rotating teed-table 20. The melon-sections are laid, cut-face downwardly, upon the feedtable which is constantly rotated and above which is rotatably mounted a three armed controller 21, which is adapted, in conjunction with a curved stationar guide 22, to control single delivery of the melonsections from the teed-table to the rotatable coring units respectively. Controller 21 is pivoted at 23 upon a stationary supporting bracket 2-3: which also supports a trip The latter is adapted to arrest the movement of controller 21 to time the delivery oi? the melon-sections by tne feed-table to the cor ing units. The frictional engagement between the cut-faces of the melon and the rotating table :20 will tend to feed the melon toward the coring units. /Vhon the controller is in the position shown in Fig. l, the melon-section will be restrained, in dicated by dotted lines, and upon release of thecontroller by the trip the melon-section and the controller will. be free to rotate so that the teed-table 20 will carry the melonsection into one of the coring units. As this occurs, the melon engaging that arm of the controller which is in front thereof, will cause the controller to be rotated so that the next arm of the controller will pass behind the melon-section and when the controller is again locked, the latter arm will be arrested in position to restrain the delivery of a melon-section until the trip is again released for the timed delivery of the next melonsection to the next coring unit. Trip normally pressed into the path of the arms of controller by a spring 26 and is fixed to a rod QTwhich guided in a lug 28 on s ool-t 2-l and said rod is provided with an ad ustable abutment in the term of a nut one screwthrcad on said rod. 11 arm 30,

through which rod 27 is free to slide, is fixed to a shaft 31 which is pivotally held in a lug SQ which is adjustably secured to bracket 24- and is adapted to engage abutment 29 to withdraw the trip from the path of the controller 21. Shaft 31 extends downwardly from the arm and is provided with an arm 33 which is adapted to be successively operated by cams 34 which rotate with the coring units, there being one of said cams for each unit, so that the controller will release one melon-section for each unit. This construction exemplifies mechanism for automaticallyfeeding melon-sections singly and in timed relation to the rotating coring units.

The coring mechanism comprises a series of coring units (ten being shown) Which are secured to rotate togetherso that they will successively receive melon-sections frointhe feed-mechanism. These units are alike in construction, so that a description of one will suffice for all. Each coring unit comprises a supporting shell or member having convergent sides, and the shells of all of the coring units fit together to form a continuous series of supports forming a unitary structure. The inner wall 41 of each shell 40 is secured to lower and upper flanged supporting tables or wheels 42 and 43, each of which is provided with a hub fitting around a stationary post or shaft 44. The hub of the lower supporting table 42 is carried by an anti-friction bearing 45 which is supported betweenthe cross-bars 17, 17. The series of shells 40 and the lower and upper supports 42 and 48 form a structure which is rotatable around the fixed shaft 44.

'Each coring unit (Figs. 3 and 4) coinprises a gripper consisting of a pair of coacting aws 47 and 48 which are adapted to be clamped against the sides of the melon section and are supported by arms 50. Each jaw COIHPHSQS a section 49 rigid with one of the arms 50 and a section 51 whlch is pivoted to sa1d arm, as at 52. A cam 51 is formed on the back of each jaw 51 and arms 51 which are pivoted to the shell '40 at 51, have their terminals formed to pass between the arms 50 and the cams 51 respectivelyto force the jaw-sectionshl inwardly relative to the sections 49 for the purpose of relatively positioning the sections so that the melon-section, when gripped, will be centralized in the coring unit and will be truly positioned for the core-cutters. Each arm 50is fixed to a short vertical shaft 53 which is mounted in a bearing 54 in shell 40 and is provided at its lower end with a gear-segment 55. The jaws 47 and 48 are closed to'grip the sides of a melon-sectionby the force of weight '56 so that melon-sections of difierent sizes or shapes may be properly gripped there by. W ight 56 iscarried by a rod 57 which is formed of sections rigidly secured together by a coupling 64 and is slidably mounted in a lug 58 secured to shell 40 and a guide 59 in the supporting-table 43. A gear-segment 60 having teeth on opposite sides engaging with the gear-segments 55, for the gripper jaws respectively, is fixed to a shaft 61 which is mounted in the shell 40 and has ailixed thereto an arm 62 which passes through a slot 68 in the coupling 64 which connects the sections of rod 57 together. Said arm 62 is provided with a roller 65 which is adapted to be lifted by a stationary cam 66 which is fixed to the stationary shaft 44. Said cam 66 is formed so that the gripping jaws will be held open to receive a melon-section while the latter is being fed to the unit by the automatic feed-mechanism and so that when the melonsection has been delivered to the unit, the arm 62 will be released so that weight 56 will close the jaws and operate them to firmly grip the melon-section despite variation in size or shape. Cam 66 comprises (Figs. 8 and 4) a lifting surface 66 which is adapted to operate arm 62 to positively open the jaws after the core has been removed from the melon-section, in manner hereinafter set forth, a straight surface 66 for holding the jaws open until the feedmechanism has delivered a melon-section into position to be grippedbetween them, and a surface 66 which will release arm 62 to render the weights 56 operative to close the awe and cause them to grip the melonsection. The gripping jaws are adapted to pass over the feed-table 20. The convergent side walls and the outer wall of shell 40 are extended to the outside of the melonsection held in the gripper and an inclined wall 67 is formed in each supporting member 40" to receive and guide the material, removed from the melon, inwardly to a discharge opening 68. This construction exemplifies means for automatically gripping melon-sections received from the feedmechanism and for holding them against rotation relatively to shell 40 during a coring operation and for releasing them thereafter. Also a gripper-construction which -is adapted for melons of different sizes and shapes.

Each coring unit comprises a cutter which enters the melon-section from below and is rotated relatively thereto to cut the. core from the: rind while the rind remains gripped betweenthe jaws 47 and 48, and this cutter, while rotating, is moved longitudinally into the 1nelon-section and is withdrawn from the rind after the core has been re-- into'a groove in a collar 71 which is slidable on the vertical shaft 7% to which said head is secured. Head is provided with cutting edges '70 which are adapted to cut the central portion of the core to the end portion of the melon. Blades 71 are curved to cut the outer portions of the core in the melon. Vl eights 71 are adjustably secured to the blades 71 and the centrifugal force of these weights causes the blades to swing outwardly on their pivots 71 and the arms 71 and collar 71 equalize the movement of the cutters to and from the axis of rotation. By adjusting the weights 71 to or from the pivots 71 the centrifugal force applied to the cutters may be varied to limit the tendency of the blades to penetrate the rind. Arms 72 are pivoted to the head 70 at "('2 mid-way between the blades 71, and these blades have wide bearing-surfaces 72 which are adapted, when they encounter the rind, to prevent further penetration of the blades, so that the cutting will cease when the knives have removed the core which is softer than the rind. Each arm 72 is pro vided with an extension 72 which has a terminal held in the groove of collar 71 so that the swinging movement of arms 72 and blades 71 will be equalized. An adjustable stop-collar 74 is provided on the shaft 74 so that the arms 72 and blades 71 cannot swing outwardly beyond a predetermined point. This construction exemplifies a corecutter which is adapted for removing the cores from water-melons and which is measurably self-adjusting or yielding in its action for different shapes or sizes of melons and so that the cutting will cease when the blades reach the melon rind.

A flange 74 on shaft 74 (Figs. 5 and 6) is supported vertically by a sleeve 75 to vertically support and shift the shaft and this sleeve is slidably held in a guide 7 6 on the shell 40. Shaft 74 extends through and is rotatable in said sleeve. A pinion 78 is 4 held against vertical movement in a yoke 77 formed on the lower end of guide 76. Shaft 7-l passes through pinion 78 and is provided with a key-way for a key on the pinion 78 so that the shaft and cutter will be rotated in shell 40 by said. pinion while the shaft is moving vertically through the pinion, to cause the cutter to penetrate the core of the melon. A bearing-plate 77 is held between the lower end of guide 7 6 and said pinion. A stationary gear'ring 79 is fixed to the tank-wall 93 and the pinions 78 for driving the cutters of all of the coring units mesh with and are driven by said gear-ring as the coring units are rotated around the shaft 44.. A. stud 80 carrying a roller 81 is fixed to the sleeve 75 and a slot 82 is formed in guide 76 for said stud. Sleeve 75 is non-rotatable in the supporting member 40 but is vertically slidable therein to control the vertical movement of the cutter. A weight 84 (Figs. 2 and 5) is mounted to slide vertically on guide-rods 85 supported by shell 40 and is connected to stu'd 80 by a chain 86 which passes around grooved guide-rollers 87 This weight serves to yieldingly move the cutters upwardly into the melon and to cause them to continuously penetrate the melon as the core is removed therefrom by the rotation of the cutters. A stationary cam 88 is adapted to be engaged by roller 81 and is provided with a straight surface 89 by which the roller 81 will be held in lowered position, so that the cutters will be withdrawn below the grippers while the melon-sections are being delivered into the grippers, a cam surface 90 adapted to allow the roller to gradually rise and permit the weight 84 to lift sleeve 85 and the cutters into the melon-section as the coring units are rotated, and a surface 91 which forces the roller 81 downwardly after the core has been removed from the melon-section and before the melon-rind is released from the gripper. Cam 88 is adapted to operate in rotative succession the rollers 81 for the cutters of all of the coring units.

Each shell 10 has its top open to receive the material cut from the melon by the cutter and suitably formed to conduct said material to the discharge opening 68 at its lower end. The discharge opening 68 delivers the material into an annular tank 9% comprising an outer cylindrical wall 93, an inner wall. 95 and a bottom wall 96 having a discharge opening 97 to deliver the material into a chute 98. The tankwall 93 is extended below the bottom 96 to inclose the mechanism under the tank and to reinforce the frame to which it is secured. Supporting bars 17 are secured to wall 93.

Chute 98 conducts the material from tank 94 to a pair of rubber rolls 99, 100 which are provided with iuterfitting ribs and grooves and are adapted to crush the pulp between them. Brushes 101 and 102 are adapted to sweep the pulp from the brushes respectively. These rolls deliver the crushed pulp onto a sieve 103 which may be vibrated in any suitable manner. The liquid passing through the sieve is collected in a tank 104K and the material from the sieve is discharged onto an endles belt 105 which is adapted to convey it to any place desired.

Mechanism for removing the rind after the core has been removed therefrom comprises a continuously rotating table 113 which is adapted to receive the rind when it is released by the gripper, and to convey it away from the gripper. A curved stationary guide 11%. cooperates with table 113 to direct the rind away from the grippers and a stationary guide 115 is adapted to deflect the rind from the table. This mechanism operates to successively remove the rinds as they reach the table 113.

A drive shaft 110 (Figs. 1 and S) is mounted in bearings 117 on the frame and is driven through a clutch 112 by a pulley 111 from any suitable source of power. Abeveled pinion 118 on shaft 110 meshes with a gear 119 which drives a gear 120 and a sleeve 121. The discharge table 113 is fixed to the sleeve 121 so that it will b continuously driven by gear 119. Gears 119, 120, sleeve 121 and table 113 are mounted on a stationary shaft122 which is supported in suitable bearings on the main frame. meshes with a gear-ring 125 which is made up of sections integral with th shells 40. Gear 120 drives the gear 125 to constantly and bodily rotate the entire series of coring units. A gear 126 meshes with the gear-ring 125 and is secured to a sleeve 127 which is fixed to the feed-table 20 so that the latter will be constantly rotated. Pinions 78 for rotating the cutters mesh with the stationary gear-ring 79 so that the cutters will be rotated in the shells 40. The gearing for driving the crusher-rolls (Figs. 8 and 9) comprises a pinion 130 fixed to shaft 110 and meshing with a pinion 131 on a vertical shaft 132, a pinion 133 fixed to the lower end of shaft 132, a pinion 134 meshing with gear 133, the shaft 135 of roll 99, a gear 136 on the shaft 135, and a gear 137 meshing with gear 136 and fixed to the shaft 138 of th crushing roll 100. Brushes 101 and 102 are driven from the crushing-roll shafts by pulleys 139, belt 140' and pulleys 141 on the shafts 142 of the brushes respectively,

The operation 'of the improved machine will be as follows: The operator will place half sections of melons on the feed-table 20, At the time when the gripper of a corthereupon one melon sectionon the table will 7 be carried into position between the gripper jaws of the coring unit approaching the feed table 20. The controller will be arrested by the trip 25'to prevent delivery of the succeeding melon until the trip is again operated for the next coring unit. As each coring unit approaches the feed-table, it will similarly receive a melon section. When the melonsections have been fed between jaws of a gripper, the roller (Fig. 4) for that gripper will be released by cam 66 so that the weight 56-will operate the jaws offthe gripper into position to clamp the melonsection.- In this manner, the coring units will be operated in rotative succession to v grip the'melon sections fed to them. After 7 a melon has been gripped in one unit and been carried o'ifthe feed-table 20, the weight 4 of: that unit, under control of the camsurface 90 cf cam 38, will operate the sleeve Gear 120 I ters of that unit from the rind.

75 to raise the constantly rotating cutter into themelon-section, The cutters are constantly rotated relatively to the melon by pinions 78 and stationary gear-rings 79 and the force of weight 84 will be applied to lift the cutters as the core is removed from the melon-rind. In this manner, the cutters of the coring units will be operated in rotative succession to remove the cores from the rind. Thepulp removed from the rind will drop into members 40 and through the discharge-opening 68 into the annular tank or receiver 94. After the core has been cut by the cutter of a given coring unit and before its gripper reaches thedischarge table 113, the cam-surface 91 of stationary cam 88 will engage the roller 81 and withdraw the cut- As each coring. unit approaches the discharge-table 113 and after th cutter has been withdrawn from the rind and the latter passes above the discharge table 113, the cam-surface 66 will operate arm 62 to open the gripper aws 47, 48 and allow the rind to drop onto the discharge table 113 which will remove the rind from the jaws, and the latter will be in position to again receive a melon-section on the feed-table 20. The pulp delivered into the receptacle 93 will be conducted to the crushing rolls 99, 100, where it will be crushed. The crushed pulp, after passing from the sieve 103' will pass onto the conveyer-belt 105 and be carried 01f to the point of use.

The invention thus exemplifies an automatic machine for cutting the core from melon-sections which has a great capacity and is efficient in operation and which is adapted to operate despite variation in shape and size of the fruit.

y The invention is not to be understood as restrictedto the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 7

' Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: V g V Y 1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of mechanism for 'cutterffor cutting the core of a melon to enter the melon and to remove the core H therefrom.

2. In a' machine ofthe character descrlbed, the comblnation of mechanism for gripping a melon-sectlon, an expanslble cutter, and mechanism for rotating the cutter ter, mechanism for rotating the cutter for cutting the core of a melon and yielding means for shifting it longitudinally to enter the melon and to remove the core there- I from.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of mechanism for gripping a melon-section, an expansible cutter, means to operate the cutter for cutting the core of a melon to enter the melon and remove the core therefrom, and mechanism for operating the gripping mechanism to grip and release a melon-section.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of mechanism for gripping a melon-section, an expansible cutter, iechanism'tor rotating the cutter for cutting the core of a melon and operating it to enter the melon and out the core therefrom, and mechanism for operating the gripping mechanism to grip and release a melon-section.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of mechanism for gripping a melon and holding it With its cut face at the bottom, a cutter disposed below the gripping device and movable upwardly into the section, mechanism for operating the cutter to enter the melon and remove the core, and mechanism for operating the gripping mechanism.

Inv a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of a central cutter-head, blades having one end pivoted to and rotatable with the head, means for equalizing the pivotal movement of the blades, and means for rotating the head and blades.

8; In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for grip- )in a melon a central cutter-head, blades l i; 2

having one end pivoted to the head, means for equalizing the pivotal movement of the blades, and means for rotating, the head and blades.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for gripping a melon, a central cutter-head, blades having one end pivoted to the head, means for equalizing the pivotal movementof the blades, and means for rotating and longitudinally shifting, the head and blades.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a central cutter-head, blades havii'm one end pivoted to and rotatable with the head, means for rotating the-head and blade, and means to cause the blades to be thrust outwardly by centrifugal force.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for gripping a melon, a central cutter-head, blades having one end pivoted to and rotatable with the head, means for equalizing the pivotal movement of the blades, means for 13. In a machine of the character de-' scribed, the combination of means for gripping a melon, a central cutter-head, blades having one end pivoted to and rotatable with the head, arms on the head having bearing surfaces adapted to engage the rind and connected to limit the penetration of the blades, and means for rotating the blades.

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for gripping a melon, a central cutter-head, blades having one end pivoted to and rotatable with the head, means for equalizing the pivotal movementof the arms and the blades, arms on the head having bearing surfaces adapted to engage the rind, and means for rotating the head.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a core cutter, means for gripping a melon, means for rotating the cutter, and means for operating the cutter longitudinally comprising a weight applied to force the cutter into the melon.

16. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a core-cutter, means for gripping a melon, means for rotating the cutter, means for operating the cutter longitudinally comprising a weight applied to force the cutter into the melon, and a cam for retracting the cutter and lifting the weight.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a cutter, gripping mechanism comprising a pair of arms and a plurality of jaw-sections on the arms and movable relatively to one another, means for operating the gripping mechanism to grip a melon-section, and means for operating the cutter to remove a core from the melon-section.

18-. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a cutter, grip ping mechanism comprising a pair of arms, and a plurality of jaw-sections on the arms and movable relatively to one another, means for yieldably operating the gripping mech= anism to grip a melon section, and means for operating the cutter to remove a core from the melon section.

19. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a cutter gripping mechanism comprising a pair of arms and a plurality of j aw-sections on the arms and movable relatively to one another, means for operating the gripping mechanism to grip a melon-section, means for relatively shifting the jaw-sections, and means for operating the cutter to remove acore from the melon-section.

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a cutter, gripping mechanism comprising a pair of arms and a plurality of jaw-sections on the arms and movable relatively to one another, means for yieldably operating the gripping mechanism to grip a melon-section, means for relatively shifting the jaw-sections, and means for operating the cutter to remove a core from the melon-section.

21. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a cutter, gripping mechanism comprising a pair of jaws adapted to grip a melon-section, means comprising a Weight for operating the jaws to grip a section, and means for operating t-hecutter to remove a core from the melonsection.

, In a machlne of the character described, the combination of a cutter, gripping mechanism comprising a pair of jaws adapted to grip a melon-section, means comprising a weight for operating the jaws to grip a'section, a cam for opening the sections and lifting the Weight, and means for operating the cutter to remove a core from the melon-section.

:23. In a machine of the character clescribed, the combination of a rotatable series of coring units each comprising a gripping device adapted to hold a melonsection with its cut face at the bottom and a core-cutter adapted to enter the core-section through itsi lower end, mechanism for rotating the units, and means for operating the cutters to remove the cores during the rotation of the series of units.

24:. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotatable series of coring units each comprising a gripping device adapted to hold a melon section with its cut face at the bottom and a core cutter adapted to enter the coresection through its'lower end, mechanism for rotating the units, and means for constantly rotating and successively operating the cutters to remove the cores during the rotation of the series of units.

25. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotatable series of coring units each comprising amelongripping device and a core-cutter, mechanism for rotating the units, means for operating the cutters to remove the cores during the rotation of the series of units, and means for automatically feeding melons to the rotating gripping devices.

26. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotatable series of coring units each comprising amelongripping device and a core-cutter, mechanism for rotating the units, means for operating the cutters to remove the cores during the rotation of the series of units, means for automatically feeding melons to the grippers and means for automatically discharging the melon-rinds.

27. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotatable series of coring. units each comprising a melongripping device and a core-cutter, said gripping device comprising a plurality of relatively movable clamping members, mechanism for rotating the series of units, means for rotating and successively operating the cutters to remove the cores from the melons during the rotation of the units, and mechanism for operating the successively grip ping devices during the rotation of the units.

28. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotatable series of coring units each comprising a melongripping device, and a core-cutter, said gripping device comprising a plurality of relatively movable clamping members, mechanism for rotating the units, means for constantly rotating and successively operating the cutters to remove the cores from the melons during the rotation of the series of units, and mechanism for operating the gripping devices successively during the r0- tation of the units to grip and release the melons.

29. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotatable series of coring units each comprising melon-gripping devices and a core-cutter, mechanism for rotating the units, means for successively operating the cutters to remove the cores from the melons during the rotation of the series of units, mechanism for operating the gripping devices successively during the rotation of the units to grip and release melons, and automatic means for feeding melons to the gripping devices.

30. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotatable series of coring units each comprising a melon-gripping device and a core-cutter, mechanism for rotating the units, means for successively operating the cutters to remove the cores from the melons during the rota-- tion of the units, mechanism for operating the gripping devices successively during the rotation of the units to grip and release the melons, means for automatically feeding melons to the gripping devices, and means for automatically discharging the melonrinds.

31. In a machine of the character described, the' combination of a rotatable series of coring units each comprising a newness gripping device adapted to hold amelon section with its cut face downwardly and a core-cutter mechanism, a rotatable horizontally disposed feed-table disposed below the gripping device, mechanism for reciprocating the cutters into and out of a melon section held in the gripping mechanism, and mechanism for rotating the cutters.

In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotatable series of coring units each comprising a gripperdevice, a core-cutter, a feed-table disposed below the gripping devices, mechanism for reciprocating the cutters into and out of a melon section held in the gripping mech anism, a discharge table extending under the gripping devices and adapted to receive melon-sections when released by the gripping devices, and mechanism for rotating the cutters.

In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotatable series of units each comprising a melongripping device and a core-cutter, mechanism comprising a stationary gear and pinions moving with the units for rotating the cutters, and means for operating the cutters into and out of the melons during the rotation of the units.

34. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotatable series of coring units each comprising a melongripping device, a core-cutter and a shell in which the gripping device and cutter are mounted, the shells being secured together to form a rigid annular structure, mechanism for rotating said structure, and means for operating the cutters to remove the cores during the rotation of the series of units.

In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotatable series of coring units, each comprising a melongripping device, a core-cutter, a shell in which. said device and cutter are mounted, and a gripper operating device, and stationary means for controlling the operation of the gripper devices.

86. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotatable series of coring units each comprising a melongripping device, a core-cutter and a shell in which the gripping device and cutter are mounted, the shells being secured together to form a rigid annular structure, mechanism for rotating said structure, the shells having discharge openings and a tank below the shells to receive material therefrom, and means for operating the cutters to remove the cores during the rotation of the series of units.

37. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a series of coring units each comprising gripping mechanism, a cutter, a supporting member, said supporting members being secured together and forming a sectionally rotatable supporting structure, and mechanism for rotating said structure.

CLARENCE F. COLBERT. 

